Page 343 of Hunters and Prey

“And where are you finding these jobs?”

I ran a hand over my face, flinching when my palm grazed my eye. “The Tap mainly, through contacts we’ve made. Dunstan set us up with one of his facilitators.”

My dad pulled out a chair and sat down. “You think that’s a good use of your training? The training I gave you to protect yourself.”

“I’m sorry, Dad. We needed the money.” But it was more than that, and from the look on his face, he knew.

His shoulders rose and fell in a heartfelt sigh. “It’s my fault. I should have asked more questions, been more aware. This.” He spread his hands. “This will never be enough for you.”

Guilt clawed at my belly, followed quickly by familiar panic. What did he mean? What was he saying?

I leaned forward, reaching for his hands. “It is enough. It is.”

And in that moment, I was a child again, afraid and desperate and defiant all at the same time. Convinced that this haven, this home, would be taken from me, but adamant not to show my savior how much this sanctuary meant to me.

He must have read my emotions on my face because he scooted forward and clasped my hand in both of his. “This is your home and always will be, but it pains me that you couldn’t come to me and tell me you needed more.”

Tell him that I needed to beat the crap out of something? That I needed the thrill of the chase and the hunt? Remind him of what I’d done and who I’d been when he’d found me?

No.

He sighed heavily. “Never be ashamed of who you are, of what you did to survive. Aggression is in your blood. It’s the Skin way.” He offered me a crooked smile. “I should have known that farm work wouldn’t have been enough, that the training wouldn’t be enough. Anya, you can always be honest with me. You must always be honest; how else will I know if you’re—” He shook his head. “How else will I know when it is time to make changes?”

His hand was warm over mine, reassuring, and the chill that had crystallized in my chest melted.

It was my turn to sigh. “I guess it’s time to make changes, then. I can keep the roof over our head and the food on the table. Being a hired hand pays well.”

His gaze hardened. “No, you misunderstand me. No more running jobs. It’s too risky.”

Okay… “Then what do you suggest we do?”

“We pack up and we move on. We’ll find fresh land, fresh dreams, and start anew.”

“That was my plan eventually too.” I sat forward. “We can head to the glades.”

“No. Not the glades.”

My heart sank. “Okay ... then where?”

“I’ve been meaning to do this for a few months now, but I wasn’t certain you were ready. But now you are.”

He was speaking in riddles and my head was beginning to throb. “What are you talking about?”

“I think it’s time we leave the Outlands altogether and make for the Furtherlands.”

Had I just heard him right? He wanted to leave neutral ground and walk straight into danger. That was his plan?

“Anya, did you hear me?”

“The Furtherlands?” My tone was calm and even.

He nodded.

Okay, I’d heard him all right, and I was suddenly stone-cold sober. “You want to go into Dreki territory. Are you insane? We have no idea what they’d do to us. We might as well sign up for servitude in Draco City—at least we know what shit to expect there.”

His dark eyes hardened. He hated it when I cursed, but he didn’t admonish me this time. “I’ve heard that there is fertile, farmable land there.”

I let out a bark of laughter. “From who? Has anyone actually come back to tell the tale? Where are these rumors coming from exactly? Probably strewn by the Dreki. The Draco are the lesser of two evils here. They did liberate us from Dreki rule, after all.”

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